St. Petersburg man sentenced to 17 years in child pornography case

After pleading guilty in May to the distribution of child pornography, a 30-year-old St. Petersburg man was sentenced Tuesday to 17½ years in prison.

Joshua Allen Taylor was the target of an international investigation that has reached seven countries. To date, authorities have arrested dozens of people and say they have saved more than 140 children from further exploitation. Two months ago, as part of the same investigation, prosecutors charged Largo puppeteer Ronald William Brown with possession of child pornography.

In November 2011, Taylor sent an explicit video to an undercover law enforcement officer. Homeland Security Investigations agents found in his home more than 5,000 images and videos.